Since coming to Türkiye, I have been able to gain a better understanding of the culture and people. Before coming here, my knowledge of the country was pretty limited, and I didn’t know what to expect. I’m very excited about all the experiences I have had and will have. Interactions have been really wholesome, and despite the language barrier I can find ways to communicate and connect with Turkish people. Turkish food has also become one of my favorite parts of the experience. I love Turkish tea, especially since it is served with most meals. I also tried Turkish coffee, which is very different from all of the other coffee I’ve had. I think that my favorite food experience so far has been breakfast and lunch at the dig house, since everybody comes together and the food unites us.
This first week has also taught me a great deal about myself. Archaeological fieldwork is far more physically demanding than I anticipated. I had always assumed that it was more “delicate,” but so far this week I have been carrying rocks, rooting, pushing the wheelbarrow, etc. The sun is very strong and the climate is humid, and the air is full of dust. I have discovered that I am capable of persevering and I think that this is a skill that I want to optimize. At the same time, I have learned the importance of pacing myself, staying hydrated, and recognizing my limits. This was a hard lesson to learn since I want to push through and get the hard stuff over with, but patience is necessary. Intellectually, I have found that I genuinely enjoy asking questions and piecing together evidence. It is incredible that these objects found on site can be used to explain and understand ancient lifestyles. The investigative process has made each day exciting, even when progress feels slow.
My perception of archaeology itself has changed. Before, I assumed that archaeology was less physical, and I never considered that the top layers of earth must be removed. Another thing that I didn’t think about was teamwork. Everybody on the site has to communicate clearly, and help each other with difficult tasks. If everybody was just doing their own thing, there would be so much less progress. After opening the locus, many factors are documented in order to understand what’s going on and give information to future archaeologists. I now understand that archaeology depends as much on teamwork and organization as it does on discovery. The excitement comes not only from what is found but from knowing that every careful action contributes to a larger understanding of the past.
The Saturday that I arrived in Gazipaşa feels like a month ago, even though it’s only been a week. The work here is hard, but hard work is the driver of progress. Working not only changes the landscape, making the soil visible from under the plants, but it also changes the worker (me). The discipline of waking up at 5:00 and working until 1:00 is exhausting, but I’m getting used to it both in body and in mind. I feel stronger, and know what to expect. Moreover, interacting with a culture that I’m unfamiliar with has developed my confidence and I am more comfortable than I was at the beginning. Finding sherds and bones makes me feel like I’m contributing to something bigger than myself. I find myself wondering if the people who lived in Antiochia Ad Cragum would be happy to know that there are people who are working hard to find out more about how they lived.